Chapter 5

When Kurama next awoke he found himself to be in a place he had never seen before. The walls were a blank white with small cracks and a crevice only large enough to allow a stray beam of sunlight to pour through.

The floors were made of cheap oak that faded in the corners and left a dull color to mix with the bare walls. Kurama sat up slowly feeling a warm sticky liquid on the back of his head. He reached around and touched the spot wincing at the sharp pain that shot through him.

His fingers made their way back in front of his face trembling gentle as Kurama saw the dark stain of blood dripping from his flesh.

Before he could assess the wound any further a moan filled his ears, snapping his gaze to his now conscious mom.

Her blonde hair was stained with crimson along with the few fragments of clothes that covered her bruised body. Aphrodites ears were flat against her head as she struggled to look at Kurama, her eyes were filled with unsaid pain ''Son. I'm so sorry. I failed you and your sister..''

Kurama embraced his mother holding onto her as if something was going to take her away any second. What he didn't know was that death was crawling closer to Aphrodite every moment.

''Mom. Its not your fault..'' His voice was initially mixed with worry but he tried to be strong as his mother broke into soft sobs in his slender arms.

Kurama said nothing as he let Aphrodite's form clutch to his own her mouth trying to form words but failing every time.

Both heard noises as male voices surrounded the small shed that they were being kept in.

The decaying door slammed open as hunters entered the tiny room all wearing smirks across their faces.

Most of them wore the same attire that consisted of a simple black shirt and black pants with a belt full of daggers and guns. The outfit allowed them to hid in the dark of the night and easily kill their prey.

A tall man walked a few feet forward. He was fairly built with harsh features, some would think he was impertinent because of his cold blue eyes which were framed by short strands of auburn that curled just at the bottom.

He didn't wear the clothes the rest of them had on. His chest was covered in a large white shirt that had spots of blood on it. His lower body was covered in brown pants that went over black hunting boots. The belt around his waist had 3 slots for weapons, one of which was being pointed at Kurama and Aphrodite.

The barrel of the gun gleamed in the small shafts of sunlight that drifted in passed the men who stood in the doorway. It's trigger was pulled half in as the man ran his eye's over at Kurama before averting his piercing optical over to Aphrodite who still had her face half buried in Kurama's chest.

''Well I see Jeckt did well, finally my quest will be over and all of the silver foxes will be dead..'' The leader's voice echoed through the room followed by laughter that rose from the rest of the watching hunters.

Kurama's eyes flashed dangerously as he stood up difiantly. His long silver hair whipped around his face, his aura beginning to grow.

The leader cocked his gun and pulled the trigger in the rest of the way. A loud noise erupted through the room, the bullet spun through the air hitting Kurama in the leg. He yelped loudly his body giving out making his collapse onto the cold floor. Aphrodite watched blood spill from the hold in his leg and stumbled to her feet standing before her son with her arms spread out.

''Please don't hurt him! he's only a child!...I'll do anything you want just don't hurt him..'' She locked eyes with the leader who responded by shooting Aphrodite in the arm. She screamed in horror but stayed standing, her breath became labored into short gasps as the hunter shot her again this time in the other arm. Blood splattered onto the ground and down her arms. She smirked staring into the hunters blue orbs.

''Mom stop! your going to get killed!'' Kurama tried to get up but pain shot up his whole body as he fell onto the ground once more.

He stared up at his mother as the golden hue in his eyes become blurry with tears. He felt helpless, he couldn't do anything. All he could do was watch while his mother was being killed.

His heart began thumping in his chest as he realized that if she dies then he would be without a mom. Without someone who would take care of him when he was sick. The person who sang to him, fed him. Gave him presents at holidays and let him stay out in the gardens till sunrise when his dad said no...Thats person was being tortured right in front of his eyes and all he could do was watch,

''Now you can either back down fox or be shot again..'' The leader's voice held a sense of calmness in it but Aphrodite heard the impetuous behind it.

She stayed standing, her teeth barred while she laughed. ''I will never back down to a human!'' Aphrodite spat at his feet and smirked in pain as the leaders brow pinched together in anger.

''Fine have it the hard way then!''

Kurama knew that his mom couldn't use her powers because she had already lost to much blood.' This is it..' he thought to himself. Today was the day he was going to die. He wouldn't live to see another day.

The leader shot a final bullet at Aphrodite. This time the bullet hit her in the chest, the hard metal ripped apart skin and went through muscle. It stopped as it hit a vain that connected to her heart and allowed it to pump blood to the rest of her body. The women's body collapsed onto the ground, her breathing becoming slow and weak.

''Humph..'' The leader threw the empty gun to the floor and walked out, the rest of the group following him.

Kurama watched as they left before crawling to his mother cradling her fragile body in his arms. He wiped the blood off of her mouth and smiled through his own pain.

''Mom...mom...can you hear me? its going to be alright...were going to get out of here. I promise.''

Aphrodite moved her soft purple eyes to rest on Kurama's face, the blue flecks in her eyes dancing. A tight lipped smile was all she could manage, it was the same smile Kinna did when she was trying to erase her pain.

''Kurama...My dear son. My time has come..'' She tried to talk again but started to cough up blood instead, the metallic sweet scent filling the air. ''Mom, please don't leave me..'' Kurama let his tears flow freely now. He didn't want to live without his mom, he didn't want her to fade from his life.

Aphrodite gave Kurama's hand a soft squeeze. ''Yoko...I love you. I always will..'' Her voice was no more then a whisper as she gave Kurama two lockets. One had a picture of Kurama's parents and a picture of Kinna and Kurama in the other side of the locket. The other locket held the same two pictures in it.

The only difference was that one locket had a black rose and red rose on the front and the other had a pink rose and purple rose on the front.

''Listen. Me and your dad made these for you. And Kinna...We were going to give them to you for your birthday...But...never mind...Just wear them always...''

Aphrodite smiled as tears fell down her cheeks. ''I. love you. Tell Kinna that.. I-I love her to..''

His mother's eyes fluttered a moment before slowly closing shut. Kurama could feel his mother's spirit leave her body as she became limp.

''Mom...I...I-l-l miss you..'' Kurama took the 2 lockets and put the one with the black and red roses on it while slipping the other one into his pocket.

He stood up and let the pain in his leg anger him more.

The once happy golden eyes flickered to a now cold stare.

Claws dug into his flesh as he clenched his hand.

They took her away, they killed her.. They have to pay...Kurama took a silent vow as he closed his eyes.

Silence filled the air. It filled his mind, thoughts, and brought him comfort...